Apparatus for cutting potatoes and onions

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for cutting a potato into a helical shape, the apparatus having a hollow, generally cylindrical body, a cutting plate having a top side and a bottom side located in the body for cutting a potato into a helical shape when a potato is inserted into the body, forced against the cutting plate and rotated around the longitudinal axis of the body, the cutting plate having a plurality of vertical blades for cutting a potato extending perpendicularly upward from the cutting plate and a horizontal blade located above the cutting plate for cutting a potato, and a feeding apparatus for forcing a potato onto the cutting plate and for rotating the potato about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body to cut the potato into a helical shape, and an apparatus for cutting an onion into a helical shape, the apparatus having a hollow, generally cylindrical body, a cutting plate having a top side and a bottom side located in the body for cutting an onion into a helical shape when an onion is inserted into the body, forced against the cutting plate and rotated around the longitudinal axis of the body, the cutting plate having a horizontal blade located above the cutting plate for cutting an onion, and a feeding apparatus for forcing an onion onto the cutting plate and for rotating the onion about the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical body to cut the onion into a helical shape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting potatoes. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to a machine for cutting potatoeswhich are to be fried. Even more particularly, the present inventionrelates to an apparatus for cutting potatoes in a helical or spiralconfiguration, such potatoes being commonly referred to as curlicuepotatoes. In another embodiment of the invention, onions may be slicedin a shape suitable for preparing fried onion rings.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Fried potatoes and onions are a popular food item in many countriesincluding the United States. Fried potatoes are commonly referred to asfrench fried potatoes, the potatoes being cut into strips or othershapes and fried in grease or cooking oil.

Another popular shape for fried potatoes is that of a potato cut intothe shape of a helix. Such potatoes are commonly referred to as curlicuepotatoes. The potato is first cut into the shape of a helix and then isfried in grease or oil in the same manner as the common fried potatoesin the shape of a strip which are frequently referred to as frenchfries.

Various apparatuses are known in the art for cutting potatoes into acurlicue or helical shape prior to frying the potato. However, thedevices of the prior art are generally complex and expensive, the priceof such apparatuses being prohibitive for purchase by the ordinaryconsumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an apparatusfor cutting a potato into a helical shape, the apparatus having ahollow, generally cylindrical body, a cutting plate having a top sideand a bottom side located in the body for cutting a potato into ahelical shape when a potato is inserted into the body, forced againstthe cutting plate and rotated around the longitudinal axis of the body,the cutting plate having a plurality of vertical blades for cutting apotato extending perpendicularly upward from the cutting plate and ahorizontal blade located above the cutting plate for cutting a potato,and a feeding apparatus for forcing a potato onto the cutting plate andfor rotating the potato about the longitudinal axis of the cylindricalbody to cut the potato into a helical shape.

In another embodiment of the present invention the vertical blades maybe eliminated and the apparatus can be utilized to cut an onion into aspiral suitable for frying, such fried onions being commonly referred toas fried onion rings.

The apparatus of the invention is easy to construct and is therefore islow in cost. The apparatus of the invention is simple to operate andrequires very little effort on the part of the user. Furthermore, theapparatus of the present invention is safe to operate and protects thehands of the user from being cut while preparing potatoes or onions forfrying. The apparatus may be easily cleaned and is small in size foreasy storage. Furthermore, the apparatus is lightweight and can beeasily moved about by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional, elevational view of the apparatus of thepresent invention,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the cutting plate of the potato cuttingapparatus of the invention,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3--3 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a top view of the potato feeder of the invention,

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the blade receiving plate of the invention,

FIG. 6 is a side of the plate shown in FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the verticalcutting blades of the invention,

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the vertical cutting blade in FIG.7,

FIG. 9 is a second embodiment of the cutting blade of the presentinvention shown in a front elevational view,

FIG. 10 is a third embodiment of the cutting blades of the presentinvention shown in a front elevational view,

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a back up plate of the present invention,

FIG. 12 is a side view of the back up plate shown in FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a plan view of the cover plate of the present invention,

FIG. 14 is a side view of FIG. 13,

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the potato cutting apparatus of theinvention, and

FIG. 16 is a top plan view of another embodiment the cutting plate ofthe invention utilized for preparing sliced onions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 15 the apparatus of theinvention can be seen to include a generally cylindrical body generallyindicated by the numeral 10. The cylindrical body is open at its top end12 and bottom end 14, and is hollow inside.

Located approximately mid way between top end 12 and bottom end 14 ofbody 10 is a lip 16 which extends around the inside of body 10. Lip 16provides support for the cutting plate assembly generally indicated bythe numeral 18 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 15.

A feeder apparatus generally indicated by the numeral 20 is slidablyreceived inside of body 10. Feeder 20 is utilized to contact a potatosuch as that generally indicated by numeral 22 in FIG. 15 and forforcing and rotating the potato against cutting blade 18 to cut thepotato into the desired shape. The feeder is cylindrical in shape and issized to be slidably received in body 10, be easily rotated in body 10and moved upwardly and downwardly along the longitudinal axis of thebody 10. Preferably feeder 20 has a bar 24 which can be grasped by thehand of the user to force the feeder upwardly and downwardly and also torotate the feeder relative to body 10. In order to construct the feeder20 as inexpensively as possible, the interior 26 of the feeder ispreferably hollow. Bar 24 is located at the top end 28 of feeder 20, andat the bottom end 30 of feeder 20 is located a cover plate 32. Coverplate 32 can be integrally molded with feeder 20 if desired.

Attached to the bottom of cover plate 32 is twisting member 34 which isrigidly connected to bottom plate 32 and is utilized to contact andtwist a potato such as 22 or any other vegetable which is desired to becut by the apparatus of the invention. Twisting member 34, as can beseen in FIGS. 1 and 4, includes a flat plate 36 rigidly connected tobottom plate 32 by rivets or screws 38 having a plurality ofprotuberances 40 extending perpendicularly downwardly therefrom.Protuberances 40 may be integrally molded with twisting member 34 andmay be of any desired number to efficiently contact and turn potato 22or any other desired vegetable such as an onion. Twisting member 34 mayassume other configurations as desired so long as the twisting memberpermits the potato to be turned when feeder 20 is rotated and forceddownwardly.

The cutting plate generally indicated by the numeral 18 can be seen inFIG. 2 lo be generally circular in shape. Cutting plate 18 has a firstopening 42 through which potatoes and onions may fall after being cut.Plate 18 has a second opening 44 therein through which are receivedvertical cutting blades 46. Vertical cutting blades are perpendicular tothe surface of cutting plate 18 as can be seen in FIG. 3.

Cutting blades 46 are shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8. Cutting blade 46preferably have a sharpened cutting edge 48 and a sloping trailing edge50. Vertical cutting blades 46 have a lip 52 connected perpendicularthereto. Cutting blades 46 are inserted into a blade receiving plategenerally indicated by the numeral 56 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

Blade receiving plate 56 has two flat cars 58 lying in the same planeand has a raised portion 60 having a series of parallel slots 62 thereinfor receipt of blades 46. The raised portion 60 contacts lip 52 whenblades 46 are inserted therein.

To hold blades 46 in place, preferably a back tip plate 64 is fittedunderneath lip 52 of blades 46 after blades 46 are inserted into bladereceiving plate 56. Back up plate 64 is sized to fit inside of raisedportion 60 and is held in place by cover plate 66 shown in FIG. 13 andin FIG. 14. Cover plate 66 and blade receiving plate 56 are attached tothe bottom of cutting plate 18 as shown in FIG. 3 and 2 by rivets orscrews 68 or by any other conventional fastening means such as gluing,welding, molding or the like.

Located in the center of cutting plate 18 is guide screw 70 which hasthreads thereon which can be seen in FIG. 3. Guide screw 70 is threadedinto bushing 72 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 and into bushing 74.

Located between bushing 72 and 74 is horizontal blade 76. Horizontalblade 76 has a cutting edge 78 and a downwardly sloping trailing edge80. Trailing edge 80 directs potatoes downwardly which have been cut byhorizontal blade 76 and vertical blades 46 through opening 42. Fastener82 secures the outer edge of horizontal cutting blade 76. Fastener 82may be a screw bolt or any other suitable conventional fastening means.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 are shown additional embodiments of vertical cuttingblades. In FIG. 9, two vertical cutting blades 84 are connected by lip86, thus pairs of the vertical cutting blades can be joined and insertedinto slot 62. In FIG. 10 is shown a plurality of cutting blades 88mounted on a bar 90. Thus in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 all of thedesired vertical blades may be joined on one common bar and insertedinto slots 62 of blade receiving plate 56.

In another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention, cuttingplate 18 is replaced with the cutting plate generally indicated by thenumeral 92 in FIG. 16. Cutting plate 92 is identical to cutting plate 18with the exception that there is no vertical blade assembly and no hole44 for receipt of the vertical blade assembly, thus the only cuttingblade would be cutting blade 76 and the apparatus could be used forcutting an onion into spiral slices which could be utilized in thepreparation of fried onions commonly called onion rings. Horizontalblade 76 would have a cutting edge 78 and cutting plate 92 would includeguide screw 70.

Lip 16 should not extend completely around the interior body 20. Asshown in FIG. 15 an opening 94 should be provided .Iadd.in .Iaddend.lip16 so that fastener 82 can contact the edge of the lip in preventcutting plate 18 from turning.

To operate the apparatus of the present invention a potato is insertedinto body 10 as shown in FIG. 15. The potato is inserted lengthwisepreferably so that the potato contacts guide screw 70 at its end. Feeder20 is then inserted into the top of body 10 and forced downwardly.Feeder 20 is then rotated clockwise, viewing feeder 20 from the top, tocause potato 22 to be cut by vertical blades 46 and horizontal blade 76into a series of long, spiral, continuous pieces of potatoes having agenerally rectangular cross section and being particularly suitable forfrying to make curlicue potatoes.

If the cutting plate 92 of FIG. 16 is utilized, most preferably an onionis the vegetable being sliced. The onion is inserted into the top ofbody 10 and feeder 20 is forced downwardly thereon forcing the onioninto contact with horizontal blade 46 and guide screw 70. Feeder 20 isrotated while applying downward . .forced.!. .Iadd.force .Iaddend.on theonion. The onion is sliced by horizontal blades 76 alone to provide anonion sliced into a continuous spiral which may then be fried to formfried onion rings.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed and described in detail above, it should be understood thatthe invention is in no sense limited thereby, and its scope is to bedetermined by that of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for cutting a potato into a helicalstrip having a rectangular cross-section comprising:a. a hollow,generally cylindrical body . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.having atop end and a bottom end; b. a .Iadd.stationary .Iaddend.cutting plate ..means.!. .Iadd.member secured across the hollow, cylindrical bodymember and .Iaddend.having a top side facing toward said top and abottom side facing toward said bottom end, said cutting plate ..means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.being located in said body . .means.!..Iadd.member .Iaddend.for cutting a potato into a helical strip having arectangular cross-section when a potato is inserted in said top end ofsaid body . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend., forced against said topside of said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.and rotatedaround the longitudinal axis of said body . .means.!..Iadd.member.Iaddend., said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.having a plurality of vertical blades on said top side formaking vertical cuts in said potato as the potato is rotated, saidvertical blades extending perpendicularly upward from the top side ofsaid cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend., and a horizontalblade spaced upwardly from said top side of said cutting . .platemeans.!. .Iadd.blade .Iaddend.for cutting said potato horizontally assaid potato is rotated, said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.having .Iadd.a .Iaddend.first opening . .means.!. thereinthrough which a portion of a potato may travel from said top side ofsaid cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.to said bottom sideof said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.into said bottomend of said body . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.after being cut bysaid horizontal and vertical . .blade means.!. .Iadd.blades.Iaddend., ..and.!. c. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.feeder . .means.!. .Iadd.member, which has agenerally cylindrical portion and a generally circular portion axiallyfixed with respect thereto in telescoping cooperation with the bodymember to provide radial constraint therebetween, .Iaddend.for forcing apotato into the top end of said body . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.and onto said top side of said cutting plate . .means.!..Iadd.member .Iaddend.and for rotating a potato about the longitudinalaxis of said cylindrical body . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.to cutsaid potato into a helical strip and to force said helical strip throughsaid first opening . .means.!. in said cutting plate . .means.!..Iadd.member .Iaddend.into the bottom end of said body . .means.!..Iadd.member; d. the circular portion, cutting plate member and one ofthe telescoping members forming a confined action space ofmanually-varied axial length in which an uncut potato is rotated whileit is forced against the cutting plate member by relative axial movementof the cutting plate member and feeder member; and e. a manual grippinghandle integral with one of the telescoping members;whereby a user canreadily move the telescoping members axially together inradially-constrained fashion.Iaddend..
 2. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said body . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.has holding meanstherein for holding said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.therein.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said holding meansprevents said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.fromrotating when a potato is forced onto the top of said cutting plate ..means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.and rotated about the longitudinal axisof said body . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend..
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1 wherein said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.hasguide post . .means.!. extending upwardly from said cutting plate ..means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.for insertion in a potato.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein said .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.guide post. .means.!. has threads thereon and is located at the center of saidcutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend..
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 5 wherein said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.iscircular in shape.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said verticalblades extend upwardly through .Iadd.a .Iaddend.second opening ..means.!. in said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.. 8.The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said vertical blades are held in.Iadd.a .Iaddend.rack . .means.!. connected to said cutting plate ..means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend..
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 whereinsaid rack . .means.!. comprises a blade receiving plate having aplurality of parallel slots therein for receipt of said vertical bladesand a cover plate connected to said blade receiving plate for holdingsaid vertical blades in said parallel slots.
 10. The apparatus of claim8 wherein said vertical blades have a lip . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.connected thereto . .which are.!. located and held between saidblade receiving plate and said cover plate.
 11. The apparatus of claim 8wherein said rack . .means.!. is connected to said bottom side of saidcover plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.. . .12. The apparatus ofclaim 8 wherein at least two of said plurality of vertical blades meansare connected by lip means..!.. .13. The apparatus of claim 10 whereinsaid lip means is perpendicular to said blade means..!.4. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said horizontal blade . .means.!. has a cutting edgeand a downwardly sloping surface extending away from the cutting edge todirect the cut portion of a potato through the first opening . .means.!.in said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.. . .15. Theapparatus of claim 1 said feeder means comprises a generally hollowcylindrical having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end having aflat circular plate therein for contacting and rotating a potato, saidtop end having grasping means therein for grasping by the hand of theoperator to rotate said feeder means and force said feeder means towardsaid cutting plate means..!.16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein saidfeeder means has twisting means connected thereto to contact a potatoand rotate the potato as said feeder means is rotated. The apparatus ofclaim 16 wherein said twisting means is attached to said flat circularplate.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said vertical blades extendabove said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member .Iaddend.a distanceequal to or greater than the distance said horizontal blade is spacedupwardly from said cutting plate . .means.!. .Iadd.member.Iaddend.. ..19. An apparatus for cutting an onion into a helical strip having arectangular cross-section comprising:a. a hollow, generally cylindricalbody means having a top end and bottom end, b. a cutting plate meanshaving a top side facing toward said top end and a bottom side facingtoward said bottom end, said cutting plate means being located in saidbody means for cutting an onion into a helical strip having arectangular cross-section when a potato is inserted in said top end ofsaid body means, forced against said top side of said cutting platemeans rotated around the longitudinal axis of said body means, ahorizontal blade spaced upwardly from said top side of said cuttingplate means for cutting said onion horizontally as said onion isrotated, said cutting plate means having first opening means thereinthrough which a portion of an onion may travel from said top side ofsaid cutting plate means to said bottom side of said cutting plate meansinto said bottom end of said cutting means after being cut by saidhorizontal blade means, and c. feeder means for forcing an onion intothe top end of said body means and onto said top side of said cuttingplate means and for rotating an onion about the longitudinal axis ofsaid cylindrical body means to cut said onion into a helical strip andto force said helical strip through said first opening means in saidcutting plate means into the bottom end of said body means..!..Iadd.20.The apparatus of claim 8 wherein at least two of said plurality ofvertical blades are connected by the lip member. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. Theapparatus of claim 10 wherein said lip is perpendicular to said blade..Iaddend..Iadd.22. An apparatus for cutting a potato into a helicalstrip having a rectangular cross-section comprising:a. a hollow,generally cylindrical body means having a top end and a bottom end, b. acutting plate means having g top side facing toward said top end and abottom side facing toward said bottom and, said cutting plate meansbeing located in said body means for cutting a potato into a helicalstrip having a rectangular cross-section when a potato is inserted insaid top end of said body means, forced against said top side of saidcutting plate means and rotated around the longitudinal axis of saidbody means, said cutting plate means having a plurality of verticalblades on said top side for making vertical cuts in said potato as thepotato is rotated, said vertical blades extending perpendicularly upwardfrom the top side of said cutting plate means, and a horizontal bladespaced upwardly from said top side of said cutting plate means forcutting said potato horizontally as said potato is rotated, said cuttingplate means having first opening means therein through which a portionof a potato may travel from said top side of said cutting plate means tosaid bottom side of said cutting plate means into said bottom end ofsaid body means after being cut by said horizontal and vertical blades,and c. feeder means for forcing a potato into top end of said body meansand onto said top side of said cutting plate means and for rotating apotato about the longitudinal axis of said cylindrical body means to cutsaid potato into a helical strip and to force said helical strip throughsaid first opening means in said cutting plate means into the bottom endof said body means, said feeder means comprising a generally hollowcylinder having a bottom end and a top end, said bottom end having aflat circular plate therein for contacting and rotating a potato, saidtop end having grasping means therein for grasping by the hand of theoperator to rotate said feeder means and force said feeder means towardsaid cutting plate means. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. An apparatus for cutting anonion into a helical strip having a rectangular cross-sectioncomprising:a. a hollow, generally cylindrical body member having a topend and a bottom end; b. a stationary cutting Plate member securedacross the hollow, cylindrical body member and having a top side facingtoward said top end and a bottom side facing toward said bottom end,said cutting plate member being located in said body member for cuttingan onion into a helical strip having a rectangular cross-section when anonion is inserted in said top end of said body member, forced againstsaid top side of said cutting plate member and rotated around thelongitudinal axis of said body member, a horizontal blade spacedupwardly from said top side of said cutting plate member for cuttingsaid onion horizontally as said onion is rotated, said cutting platemember having a first opening therein through which a portion of anonion may travel from said top side of said cutting plate member to saidbottom side of said cutting plate member into said bottom end of saidbody member after being cut by said horizontal blade; c. a feeder memberwhich has a generally cylindrical portion and a generally circularportion axially fixed with respect thereto in telescoping cooperationwith the body member to provide radial constraint therebetween, forforcing an onion into the top end of said body member and onto said topside of said cutting plate member and for rotating an onion about thelongitudinal axis of said cylindrical body member to cut said onion intoa helical strip and to force said helical strip through said firstopening in said cutting plate member into the bottom end of said bodymember; d. the circular portion, cutting plate member and one of thetelescoping members forming a confined action space of manually-variedaxial length in which an uncut onion is rotated while it is forcedagainst the cutting plate member by relative axial movement of thecutting plate member and feeder member; and e. a manual gripping handleintegral with one of the telescoping member;whereby a user can readilymove the telescoping members axially together in radially-constrainedfashion. .Iaddend.